Pop-Culturalist.com

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration. But for our pets, it can be stressful and cause anxiety. Lucky for Pop Culturalist readers, we spoke with world-renowned canine professional Cesar Millan to understand how and why our pets react to fireworks, and how we can keep them safe and comfortable this holiday season.

PC: You’ve said in the past that in the animal world, there are four options: flight, fight, avoidance, or surrender. How do these four reactions manifest themselves in our pets? What are the key things to look out for?
Cesar: Anxiety can showcase itself differently for each dog. Some dogs may enter flight mode, escaping or running away. Fight mode consists of constant barking or freezing. Some indications of freeze mode include when an animal shifts from being hyperactive and wagging its tail to hiding or staying in one spot. You need to pay close attention to your dog’s body language. If your dog is anxious or scared, they may pant, have a tucked tail, exhibit excessive drooling, hide, or show aggression.

PC: You’ve recommended doubling the amount of exercise that you give your dog on July 4th. Is there an optimal time when we should be taking our pets out to exercise?
Cesar: It is best to exercise dogs when they first get up to help keep them calm, cool, and collected throughout the day. I recommend setting aside thirty minutes to a full hour. In the summer, keep your walks and runs to early mornings or even in the early evenings if needed when the temperature is cooler.

PC: People often recommend ThunderShirts to help cope with fireworks. Why is it effective for certain dogs and not others?
Cesar: Dogs respond in different ways. Some people have had success with ThunderShirts as the pressure of the shirt has been known to have a calming effect on the dog’s nervous system. I recommend a GPS tracking system like Halo Collar which uses GPS technology to create invisible fences where your dog can safely play and relax inside or outside the home.

PC: What are the best ways to desensitize our pets to the sound of fireworks? What are things pet owners should definitely not do during the Fourth of July?
Cesar: You can begin training your pet a few weeks before. I recommend playing sounds over a speaker that simulate fireworks. Start low and gradually increase the noise level as your dog tolerates to desensitize the sound. Make sure to give rewards each time a new sound level is reached. You also want to make your dog comfortable and block out the sound during the actual fireworks with music or a TV. Dogs can read body language, so if you’re tense or jump when a firework goes off, they will respond similarly or worse.

If you’re looking for more tips, check out these videos from Cesar!

To keep up with Cesar, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.